زان محمد شافع هر داغ بود ** که ز جز شه چشم او مازاغ بود
Mohammed was the intercessor for every brand (of disgrace) because his eye did not swerve for aught except God.
در شب دنیا که محجوبست شید ** ناظر حق بود و زو بودش امید
In the night of this world, where the sun (of Reality) is veiled, he was beholding God, and (all) his hope was in Him.
از الم نشرح دو چشمش سرمه یافت ** دید آنچ جبرئیل آن بر نتافت
His eyes received collyrium from Did not We expand (thy breast)? He saw that which Gabriel could not endure.
مر یتیمی را که سرمه حق کشد ** گردد او در یتیم با رشد
The orphan to whom (to whose eyes) God applies collyrium becomes the orphan (unique) pearl endowed with (Divine) guidance.
نور او بر ذره‌ها غالب شود ** آن‌چنان مطلوب را طالب شود 2865
Its light overpowers (that of all other) pearls, (because) it desires such an (exalted) object of desire.
در نظر بودش مقامات العباد ** لاجرم نامش خدا شاهد نهاد
(All) the (spiritual) stations (attainments) of God's servants were visible to him (the Prophet): consequently God named him ‘The Witness.’
آلت شاهد زبان و چشم تیز ** که ز شب‌خیزش ندارد سر گریز
The weapons of the Witness are a trenchant (veracious) tongue and a keen eye, whose nightly vigil no secret can elude.
گر هزاران مدعی سر بر زند ** گوش قاضی جانب شاهد کند
Though a thousand pretenders (false witnesses) may raise their heads, the Judge turns his ear towards the Witness.
قاضیان را در حکومت این فنست ** شاهد ایشان را دو چشم روشنست
This is the practice of judges in dealing justice: to them the (truthful) witness is (like) two clear eyes.
گفت شاهد زان به جای دیده است ** کو بدیده‌ی بی‌غرض سر دیده است 2870
The words (testimony) of the Witness are equivalent to the eye because he has seen the secret (of Reality) with a disinterested eye.
مدعی دیده‌ست اما با غرض ** پرده باشد دیده‌ی دل را غرض
The pretender (false witness) has seen it (too), but with self-interest: self-interest is a veil upon the eye of the heart.
حق همی‌خواهد که تو زاهد شوی ** تا غرض بگذاری و شاهد شوی
God desires that you should become an ascetic (záhid) in order that you may abandon self-interest and become a Witness (sháhid);
کین غرضها پرده‌ی دیده بود ** بر نظر چون پرده پیچیده بود
For these motives of self-interest are a veil upon the eye: they enfold (muffle) the sight, like a veil.
پس نبیند جمله را با طم و رم ** حبک الاشیاء یعمی و یصم
Therefore he (the self-interested man) does not see the whole in (all its) various aspects: your love of (created) things makes you blind and deaf.
در دلش خورشید چون نوری نشاند ** پیشش اختر را مقادیری نماند 2875
Since the (Divine) Sun caused a light to dwell in his (the Witness's) heart, the stars no longer had any values for him.
پس بدید او بی‌حجاب اسرار را ** سیر روح مومن و کفار را
Therefore he beheld the mysteries without veil: (he beheld) the journey of the spirit of the true believers and the infidels.
در زمین حق را و در چرخ سمی ** نیست پنهان‌تر ز روح آدمی
God hath not (created) in the earth or in the lofty heaven anything more occult than the spirit of Man.
باز کرد از رطب و یابس حق نورد ** روح را من امر ربی مهر کرد
God hath unfolded (the mystery of all things) moist or dry, (but) He hath sealed (the mystery of) the spirit: ‘(it is) of the amr of my Lord.’
پس چو دید آن روح را چشم عزیز ** پس برو پنهان نماند هیچ چیز
Therefore, since the august eye (of the Witness) beheld that spirit, nothing remains hidden from him.
شاهد مطلق بود در هر نزاع ** بشکند گفتش خمار هر صداع 2880
He is the absolute witness in every dispute: his word crushes the crop-sickness (which is the cause) of every headache.
نام حق عدلست و شاهد آن اوست ** شاهد عدلست زین رو چشم دوست
God is named ‘the Just,’ and the Witness belongs to Him: for this reason the just Witness is the eye of the Beloved.
منظر حق دل بود در دو سرا ** که نظر در شاهد آید شاه را
The object of God's regard in both worlds is the (pure) heart, for the king's gaze is fixed upon the favourite.
عشق حق و سر شاهدبازیش ** بود مایه‌ی جمله پرده‌سازیش
God's love and the mystery of His dallying with His favourite were the origin of all His veil-making (creation of phenomena).
پس از آن لولاک گفت اندر لقا ** در شب معراج شاهدباز ما
(’Twas) on that account, then, (that) in meeting (the Prophet) on the night of the Ascension our (Lord who is) fond of dalliance said, ‘But for thee (I would not have created the heavens).’
این قضا بر نیک و بد حاکم بود ** بر قضا شاهد نه حاکم می‌شود 2885
This (Divine) Destiny rules (everything) good and evil: does not the Witness become the ruler of Destiny?